Topic: Test Drive: 2014 Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI Diesel

[Autos_Editor]

 The Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI will reward your hip pocket, but not the way you're expecting.

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[hemusbull]

You say "Volkswagen is the only mainstream diesel manufacturer in the North American game". Comparing VW diesel engine cars with others in their respective classes, they are anything but people's...Soon VW will not need Audi as a premium priced brand! And the North American game is well supported by automotive journalism! It is a brainwashing of the mass consumer and building the customer perception!

[ChaosphereIX]

long live wagons

who needs crossovers, bleh

[WRX_Pilot]

Meanwhile in Europe, where everyone is driving diesel wagons, they probably lust after six-cylinder crossovers and full-size pickup trucks. That’s just the way these things work.

 

(Also enjoyed the fishstick reference.. Yarr)

[tpl]

You say "Volkswagen is the only mainstream diesel manufacturer in the North American game". Comparing VW diesel engine cars with others in their respective classes, they are anything but people's...Soon VW will not need Audi as a premium priced brand! And the North American game is well supported by automotive journalism! It is a brainwashing of the mass consumer and building the customer perception!

I read somewhere that the average 'transaction price' on a new car in Canada is around $30K  so I don't see the problem with this wagon.

[evil_twin]

You say "Volkswagen is the only mainstream diesel manufacturer in the North American game". Comparing VW diesel engine cars with others in their respective classes, they are anything but people's...Soon VW will not need Audi as a premium priced brand! And the North American game is well supported by automotive journalism! It is a brainwashing of the mass consumer and building the customer perception!

I read somewhere that the average 'transaction price' on a new car in Canada is around $30K  so I don't see the problem with this wagon.

With car pricing, consumers' cost expectations seem to lag inflation.   Cars cost more than they did in 2003.   The expectation that $25k will buy you decently equipped economy car isn't so true anymore.   

[hemusbull]

The diselization of mas vehicles in Europe is at any price range. The cheapest and budget minded cars like Dacia, Daihatsu, Skoda, Hyndai, Seat, Fiat, Kia, Renault, Peugeot and so on, each has diesel at lowest priced sub compacts and compacts as well. And all of them have wagons. VW wagon diesel here is inadequately high priced ...and without direct competition!

[ChaosphereIX]

The diselization of mas vehicles in Europe is at any price range. The cheapest and budget minded cars like Dacia, Daihatsu, Skoda, Hyndai, Seat, Fiat, Kia, Renault, Peugeot and so on, each has diesel at lowest priced sub compacts and compacts as well. And all of them have wagons. VW wagon diesel here is inadequately high priced ...and without direct competition!

that is why it is high priced, and will continue to be so until others jump onboard.

competition is good

[OliverD]

With car pricing, consumers' cost expectations seem to lag inflation.   Cars cost more than they did in 2003.   The expectation that $25k will buy you decently equipped economy car isn't so true anymore.

Sure it is. In 2003, economy cars didn't tend to come with leather, navigation, Bluetooth, etc. But you can still get a very nicely equipped compact car for $25k.

A 2003 Corolla was $15,290. A 2014 is $15,995.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The diselization of mas vehicles in Europe is at any price range. The cheapest and budget minded cars like Dacia, Daihatsu, Skoda, Hyndai, Seat, Fiat, Kia, Renault, Peugeot and so on, each has diesel at lowest priced sub compacts and compacts as well. And all of them have wagons. VW wagon diesel here is inadequately high priced ...and without direct competition!

The base £9995 ($17241) Fiesta Studio three door with manual is only available with the 1.25L 60ps gasoline engine. To get the diesel you have to move up to the  Fiesta Style, where the three door manual with the 75ps TDCi is £12945 ($22330), a £2950 ($5088) difference.

[carcrazed]

Diesel is 20 cents more per litre than regular in BC?  That's a huge difference; it's not as bad here in Ontario.

After living with a higher seating position and easier ingress/egress of my MDX, I'd go with a CX-5 in this market.

[JRM]

Good article!  I bought a 2010 Golf Comfortline wagon new.  Since I only put around 15,000 km a year on my vehicle, I decided not to go for the TDI as I would never recover the extra 2,800.00+ tax in five years, especially here in NB where deisel fuel is more expensive year round.   Of course, I expected the resale would be higher on the TDI, but not more than the original price differential, let alone $4,000.00 or even more.  Also, I didn't like the turbo lag or the rough shifting DSG.  So, I'm going to take a bit of a bath when it comes time to trade in a couple of years.  Live and learn!

[redman]

You make some good points regarding a diesel commuter car. There are now great non diesels available for less money that have equal or better F.E.
Diesel cars to me make sense if you're doing mostly long distance highway driving, otherwise other vehicles make for cheaper operation costs.
Diesels cars are also great if your live in a high incline mountain area whereby the added torque would be welcomed. If towing heavy weight, get a truck !!

[canuckystan]

I think the reason why so many people believe cars are too expensive is that wages have not kept up with inflation in the last 20-30 years, so cars are actually more expensive than they used to be in terms of purchasing power.  Add more discretionary spending on technology like internet, iphones and the like, and people have even less money to finance a car.

$35k for a compact wagon is not for me.  Of course I buy all my vehicles used for cash, and never had a car payment.

[Fobroader]

After the absolutely horrid heat the Jetta TDI I drove pumped out and my friends with a Golf TDI say the car has no heat around -30 or lower....Id be very sketched out over any fuel economy gains if I cant feel my giblets when its cold.

[bombastic]

You say "Volkswagen is the only mainstream diesel manufacturer in the North American game". Comparing VW diesel engine cars with others in their respective classes, they are anything but people's...Soon VW will not need Audi as a premium priced brand! And the North American game is well supported by automotive journalism! It is a brainwashing of the mass consumer and building the customer perception!

What are you talking about? Passat is less expensive than Accord now.

[mixmanmash]

After the absolutely horrid heat the Jetta TDI I drove pumped out and my friends with a Golf TDI say the car has no heat around -30 or lower....Id be very sketched out over any fuel economy gains if I cant feel my giblets when its cold.

What model years?  As far as I know, recent TDIs all have electric heat to supplement.  As well, what was the mileage on these vehicles?  I have found with most German cars, the thermostat usually needs to be replaced around 100k kms, diesel or not.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

You make some good points regarding a diesel commuter car. There are now great non diesels available for less money that have equal or better F.E.
Diesel cars to me make sense if you're doing mostly long distance highway driving, otherwise other vehicles make for cheaper operation costs.
Diesels cars are also great if your live in a high incline mountain area whereby the added torque would be welcomed. If towing heavy weight, get a truck !!

 

[Fobroader]

After the absolutely horrid heat the Jetta TDI I drove pumped out and my friends with a Golf TDI say the car has no heat around -30 or lower....Id be very sketched out over any fuel economy gains if I cant feel my giblets when its cold.

What model years?  As far as I know, recent TDIs all have electric heat to supplement.  As well, what was the mileage on these vehicles?  I have found with most German cars, the thermostat usually needs to be replaced around 100k kms, diesel or not.

2005 for the Jetta it was brand new, 2010 or 2011 for Golf and low, low mileage.

[cruzzer]

Good review of a very interesting vehicle for the Canadian market. Wagons, diesels and manuals all being somewhat rare-ish these days. The one thing I would question is the Impreza being 'a little better in the snow'. With all the snow in Southern ON, I can imagine a lot of smug Subaru owners right now.